Harry the Handsome Executive is a nice game from Ambrosia Software. The graphics are nice, the sound is nice, and the side notes are funny. If you are looking for Duke Nukem style humor, Starfleet Academy graphics, or Myth gameplay, this is not the game for you. If you are a middle manager in a huge corporation, or just have a love of comic strip, Dilbert, this is the game for you. Priced reasonably at $20.00, you get a game which harkens back to the days of Prince of Persia and Glider. In fact, in the age of processor cycle gobbling, RAM hogging, 30 fps games, Harry is a nice, simple game which everyone, including non-Power Macintosh owners, can play.
 
Top Down
With a top down perspective, Harry glides in his foam-backed swivel chair through the corporation, carrying out the tasks of upper management. Moving in a 360 degree environment, Harry backpedals through tack mine fields, kicks is way through doors, avoids dart playing co-workers, and gobbles of donuts and coffee at an alarming rate. Mail trucks and robots designed to kill are obstacles which should be avoided. Games can be saved at the copy machine and co-workers always have interesting little quips of advice.
 
Controlling Harry is a simple yet difficult task. With Harry backpedaling through the office, I became confused at times with how to maneuver him. I guess this shows my lack of experience using a wheeled swivel chair because Harry wheeled completely out of control a couple times. You can move fast backwards or inch forward, while moving left and right. An extra boost of speed can be attained by kicking against a wall. You need to find keys for color coded locked doors and kick them open once you’ve unlocked them. An action key allows you to use staple guns and various other office equipment in your quest to complete the level.
His various tasks outlined at the beginning of each level, yet from start to finish, each level seems relatively similar. From running errands of upper management to squashing incoming aliens, the levels are routine and commonplace. The graphics are simple and monotonous as is the sound, which boasts a Midi sound track with decent sound effects.
 
The Bottom Line
All in all, this game is nice but not spectacular. While I understand that it is shareware, it fills a niche with “super” games such as Starfleet Academy and Myth currently out by allowing the entire Macintosh family to play it, if you have System 7 or above. Also, it is quite affordable. I think I have just been spoiled by the above titles.
